In 2004, Adi Ezroni, a well-known Israeli actress and TV personality, learnt of the harsh realities of the underworld of child trafficking. In defence of the rights of children around the globe, Adi decided to get involved in the production of ‘Holly’ – a feature film opening this week in the US – which portrays the life and experiences of an underage girl who ends up in the hands of sexual exploiters.

What started as a narrative project has now turned into an international grassroots movement dedicated to raising awareness of child prostitution and putting an end to the inhumane industry. Here, ASW talks to Adi about the difficulties she faced while shooting the controversial film, and the importance of delivering a clear and urgent message to the international policy-making community.

Q. Tell us about Holly. Where did the idea come from? How did it start?
Adi Ezroni: While travelling on a sabbatical in 2002, my partner, Guy Jacobson, encountered a group of five to seven-year-old girls in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who aggressively tried to solicit him for prostitution. One of the girls, she was about six years old, said, "I yum very good. I no money today. Mama San boxing me.” (Meaning: the madam of the brothel will beat me up.) He gave them some money and walked away, but decided to do something about it.

While researching the subject, he was horrified to realize that each year around two million children (some younger than a year old) are kidnapped, sold into prostitution and sexually abused worldwide.

I met Guy in 2004, right after his trip. I was on vacation in New York when he told me of his idea to write a narrative film through the eyes of a girl. I was so passionate about making this happen that I suggested I’d be the water girl and decided to leave Israel and my career to pursue the dream of producing a film that would raise awareness on the issue.

The product of this decision was to create a combination of a three-film project which has now evolved into an international grassroots movement to decrease child prostitution, sexual exploitation and child trafficking. We were extremely fortunate to meet Amit Kort and Dr. Smadar Kort who decided to fund the whole project. And we had an incredible crew led by Holly’s director, Guy Moshe.

Q. I understand you had many problems while filming, including being held at gunpoint and even being held hostage for two weeks. Could you share your experiences?
AE: Producing this project has been an uphill battle, and sometimes seemed more like a war. When we arrived in Cambodia, Interpol cautioned us about threats to our lives. We were a group of international filmmakers who had decided to expose explosive subject matter in a corrupt country. Everything that could go wrong, did – the Cambodian, Vietnamese and Chinese mafia were after us, our equipment was held up in the borders and we were extorted to get it back, we had over forty bodyguards with AK-47s guarding us on the set, we had to hide our film, we got stuck in remote rivers, and, finally, after the production team left, I was denied exit out of the country and basically held hostage for two weeks.

When I arrived in the airport to leave the country with a bag full of documentary tapes (for the second film), the officers stopped me and said “cannot” and gave me a warrant in Khmer with the names of the chief producers of the project in English. Since I was the only one there at that point, I realized that I was in danger and I couldn’t go back to the hotel I was staying in. I stayed in a different area in town under a fake name and after about five days, we found out that it was pure extortion. It took me another two weeks and a lot of money; had I not left, it would have become a diplomatic incident.

Q. Child prostitution is largely an undocumented issue. Was the problem larger than you imagined?
AE: Actually, I feel like when we started there wasn’t much awareness to the issue. It was ‘Dateline’ in 2005 that did the first big exposé, I think. And then they started with the series about sexual predators. I knew about the issue, but never ever imagined that it was so vast and so extreme. Three-year-olds? And not only in Asia — everywhere.

That is part of the problem of combating this epidemic – the lack of one geographical/racial/ethnic theme. For example, a brothel was just closed in Queens, NY,with ten-year-old girls.

Q. Tell us some of your favourite moments when filming Holly.
AE: My favorite moments when filming Holly had to do with casting locals for different roles, and especially finding the children that would play the street children in the film. I went to a number of different orphanages and auditioned little Cambodian children to see if they could handle the pressure of being on set, if they understood what we wanted from them, etc. I found a wonderful group of kids who are featured in the film, and an extraordinary boy that plays Holly’s street friend. It was sometimes very difficult because no “good” girl would play a prostitute in a film. We ended up finding real working girls for those scenes.

Also, Somaly Mam, the head of AFESIP (one of the largest organizations that treats these children) and the Somaly Mam Foundation is here in New York for our premier at the UN. After a number of years, hearing Khmer again really made me nostalgic. I loved touring around on a small motorcycle, walking around in the markets, eating exotic fruits.

Q. In your opinion, what is the main cause of human trafficking - aside from there being a great demand for it?
AE: I think that the demand is the key. If you reduce the demand, you’ll reduce the supply. I wouldn’t say poverty, because some of the poorest countries don’t have as much of a problem. It may have to do with a broken family structure/culture, usually as a result of war. But the most important thing to remember is that there wouldn’t be any child prostitution if there weren’t regular clients that look specifically for that, which is why it’s important to strengthen legislature and enforcement.

Q. The making of this film inspired the creation of an active humanitarian movement. Tell us about Redlight Children.
AE: The Redlight Children Campaign is a worldwide grassroots human rights initiative promoting awareness and practical action for reducing the number of children who are sexually exploited each year. The goal is to decrease the demand for child sexploitation by raising awareness through mass media, pressuring governments to enact, amend and enforce more effective legislation and creating a broad coalition of human rights organizations as well as academia and media to deal with the issue.

With an easily accessible website, readers will be able to read information/research about the subject, and send emails to their representatives about what they would like them to do. The emails/communications received are featured on the site for additional accountability and pressure.

Q. What do you think will be the future of human trafficking? What are the solutions being proposed by local and international authorities on the subject?
AE: The TIP (Trafficking in Persons) report that comes out every year ranks the different countries in terms of steps that are taken in enforcement, legislature, education and treatment. There is a strong push now for countries to be able to prosecute their nationals if they’ve found them participating in underage sex. It is already implemented by the US. I hope it will be implemented everywhere. We will be screening the film in DC to ambassadors of all countries, as well as senate and congress, and hope that this will push them in the right direction. If one knows that wherever they are in the world they will be held accountable under the laws of their own country, it makes a difference. Since some countries are still too corrupt to truly implement strong laws, this could definitely be a great step in the right direction.

Q. Given the fact that the issue is still extremely undercover in most countries around the world – especially in the West – what would you advise people to do to help fight child trafficking and sexual slavery in their own communities?
AE: It is not West versus East – this is very important to emphasize. Holly was shot in Cambodia, just like it could have been shot in London, Florida, Mexico, Israel or Croatia…
Go to http://www.redlightchildren.org/

In the coming week we will install an application that will allow you to send letters to your constituents and representatives demanding immediate action.

If you have a nonprofit, if you have a corporation, or are just as passionate as us about the issue – go to www.priorityfilms.com/join.php and see how we can arrange mutual screenings or other ways to spread the word. It is important to keep this film in the theaters, for a long time, so that it gets to the smaller cities, to the college towns and crosses over internationally.

Holly opens in theaters nationwide in the US on November 9. For tickets and more information visit www.priorityfilms.com

— Alonso Dominguez

From Comunista to Fashionista--Models Strut Down the Great Wall of China

When Qin Shi Huang erected the Great Wall of China in 221 BC, protection of the Chinese Empire's northern borders was what he had in mind. More than 2000 years later, Karl Lagerfeld had a different thought.

Last week, for the first time, the historic monument was transformed into the world's largest runway to showcase Fendi's Spring 2008 collection. The show, which was the grand finale to a four-day extravaganza, was attended by socialites, celebrities and fashionistas including Kate Bosworth, Zhang Ziyi, Tinsley Mortimer, Thandie Newton, ASW Members Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Amanda Hearst, Fabiola Beracasa, Laird Borrelli, Billy Farrell (New York's ubiquitous shutterbug) and Zani Gugelmann who effusively recalls the show as being "a magical, surreal moment - surpassing all expectations I could have ever imagined."

Not everyone was so happy. ASW member and Executive Director of the Association for Asian Research, Erping Zhang, felt that "reducing a historical landmark such as the Great Wall to a commercial site for self promotion is not a decent idea."

As we march towards the 2008 Olympics, it is becoming increasingly clear that China, a politically socialist, yet seemingly economically capitalist nation is openly and visibly embracing American and European luxury brands, and placing them center stage.

It also seemed fitting that the Fendi celebrations overshadowed the Chinese Communist Party's Annual Convention, which was held during the same timeframe.

— Sabine Heller and Alonso Dominguez

Sanjay Rawal

Sanjay Rawal

Sanjay Rawal is a philanthropy junkie. He has led dozens of projects around the world and helped launch some of the most impressive relief campaigns to date. His previous work with the likes of Donna Karan and Wyclef Jean has quickly earned him a position as a go-to guy when it comes to humanitarian endeavors.

We sat down to talk shop with the man who likes going all the way – to support the right cause.

Q. How and when did you become a member of ASW?
Sanjay Rawal: Late last spring my ultra-connected friend, Octavio Domit, invited me after another member teased me for not having joined yet. I just hadn’t gotten around to it. I should have!

Q. How do you use ASW and what’s your favorite site feature?
SR: I have to hand it to ASW, just for giving hundreds of super-connected, super-creative people the chance and comfort to interact on a global scale. Since I joined in June, I have joined the board of an ASW member-led bottled water company, developed a few new philanthropic projects with ASWers and received immeasurable help and advice from a number of people. ASWers are definitely way more [socially] conscious than the average Joe and the opportunities to collaborate on a business and philanthropic level are staggering. Through ASW alone, I ended up helping a friend finish building a community centre for children in Mississippi who were affected by Hurricane Katrina!

Q. You sort of ‘stumbled’ upon directing a humanitarian program in Nepal, when the person in charge of the direction of the development arrived three weeks late. This seems like a good luck/bad luck type of situation that seems to have had a big influence on you. Can you tell us something about your first experience and how it developed?
SR: I was a bit confused trying to find a real career in New York City. I originally moved to the city for grad school in 1997, but was lured by the bright lights of Broadway, actually off-off-Broadway. I took a lead in a small production, which ended up touring Europe. I came back to do the career thing and joined an iBank in 1998.

Later that summer, a friend of mine who worked at UNICEF in NYC encouraged me to get involved as a volunteer with a project she was working on in Nepal. At the same time I was becoming disillusioned by Wall Street, quit my job, and basically began helping in minor ways to put together a peace initiative she was launching in Nepal. I was just trying to find something I really enjoyed, I guess.

As I got more involved, she suggested I go there with her. I got my ticket to Kathmandu, then found out she was going to be three weeks late for this program, for which we just had one month to launch!

But I went, had a wonderful time, felt purpose (finally) and never looked back. Basically we had lobbied the Nepali Government all fall to pass a peace resolution and went to Nepal to rally all the political parties around this resolution as a show of national solidarity for peace. We had a grand kick-off and even brought elephants to the lobby of a five star hotel for the event (they made such a mess!).

Sanjay Rawal and Angelique Kidjo

Q. After Nepal you led programs in Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysian Borneo, Brunei, Thailand, The Gambia, and elsewhere. Were all of these programs peace-related? Could you tell us about the nature of some of these programs and their impact on the community?
SR: After my experience in Nepal, I began to understand the simplicity of lobbying and working with governments as well as local non-profits to make a sustainable impact on communities – basically helping groups drive through red tape. I also learned that if one was willing to work for (nearly) nothing, there were endless job possibilities in this field!

After Nepal my next gig was in Brazil, set up by a friend of mine who paired me with Brazilian Olympic hero, Joaquim Cruz, to create an identical program to the one I did in Nepal. We helped to motivate the government to actively support peace through sports and helped give voice to hundreds of national-caliber athletes living at or below the poverty line. Surprisingly enough, it was successful and when I came back to New York I realized I could make a real career out of this and subsequently traveled to 35 countries over the next five years.

Most of the projects were, in fact, related to peace – developing a sense of local, national or international peace, through initiatives that encouraged sports (like the World Harmony Run), the arts, culture or government, and sometimes all four. The projects I worked on were varied but all helped to establish platforms for dialogue and lead parties to constructive resolutions.

I was at home in New York on 9/11. After those events, ‘peace’ became a bad word and I had to re-calibrate on a number of levels, so to speak. I became more focused on governmental relations and helping governments and non-profits communicate with each other and the public more effectively.

Q. Tell us about Wyclef Jean and the program you started with him to help Haiti.
SR: In 2004, Wyclef and I were sitting in his music studio in New York. Clef had just met Harry Belafonte who lauded him for his humanitarian activities but also told him he had a long way to go.

Clef hadn’t been back to Haiti since 1997 when the Fugees performed in Port-au-Prince – [band member] Pras wore a bullet-proof vest on stage! So, on a whim, we flew down to plan the largest concert in Haiti’s history – multi-million attendee concert set for December 2004 – as a demonstration of peace.

To make a long story short, the unrest in Haiti reached a boiling point that October and we were forced to scuttle our plans for the concert, but having realized the impact Wyclef could make in Haiti on a purely humanitarian level, we launched Yele Haiti to address key development issues in the area.

We wanted to start small, but the need was so great. In just two years, Yele became the best-known non-profit in Haiti. Down there we ran slum clean-up projects and gave scholarships. In the States we had meetings with World Bank President James Wolfensohn, State Department and intelligence officials, and had fundraisers with Angelina Jolie, Norah Jones, Drew Barrymore, Meryl Streep and others. It was a wild ride.

Wyclef Jean in Haiti

Q. After you quit managing Yele, what happened next?

SR: After about 16 months of working 80-hour weeks, I was totally burned out. I had an opportunity to spend three months in Malaysia on beaches, working part-time on projects with children orphaned by the 2004 tsunami. Yele was in a great place and I felt it was a good opportunity to move on.

When I returned in 2005, I joined a consulting company started by a couple of friends focused on development. This company took over Yele when I retired. We just merged this month with an advertising agency to become what I think is the premier agency for execution of cause-related marketing and non-profit work from the ground up. We are called The Vox. [Other principals include ASWers Roberto Ramos and Susan Jaramillo].

Q. You seem to have a close relationship with music foundations. Tell us about Batonga and Bambai Bling.
SR: Musicians and artists are some of the most creative people I know. When they are given the space and freedom to create sustainable development projects, the ideas they develop are absolutely genius. And of course, the energy they bring can break down many barriers.

We followed the model of Yele, which mixed music with development efforts – we had local hip-hop stars distributing rations in the poorest neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince – to create Batonga: an organization headed by African superstar and UNICEF Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, oriented to bring education to young girls in underdeveloped African nations.

Over the last few years, there has been a huge international push to put kids in Africa into primary school; however, most groups realized that there weren’t too many options for kids to continue school past the sixth grade – especially girls. With Batonga, we are giving girls in five countries such opportunities.

Similarly, last year a couple filmmaker friends of mine took rapper Paul Wall, Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan and child-soldier-turned-author Ishmael Beah to Sierra Leone to explore the intersection of civil war, blood diamonds and bling. Their documentary Bling: A Planet Rock was a huge hit on VH1 and helped start a foundation we created for the children of Sierra Leone. Bambai Bling launched last June with the help of Jeff Skoll and Jennifer Connelly at an event widely attended by ASW members.

Q. You have worked with many interesting people. From General Khinh Nyunt in Myanmar to Donna Karan in New York. Who has inspired you the most?
SR: The one thing I learned in New York, if I have learned anything at all (!) is the need for inner peace. I think that if I didn’t meditate on a daily basis I would have gone totally nuts. I am pretty lucky to be close to Sri Chinmoy, a well-known meditation teacher and humanitarian who lives, of all places, in New York City. His philosophy is: “If you are not in the world, you can’t change it.” Very practical.

He also introduced me to a number of his close friends, like President Gorbachev, Susan Sarandon, Sting and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with whom I ended up working at one point.

Q. You are very fond of philanthropy, there’s no doubt about that. What is it that you find most attractive about your occupation? Where do you get your inspiration from?
SR: I don’t consider myself an expert by any means. I am constantly learning but I know that if I offer myself with at least a little bit of humility in the service of others, I sleep well at night! I really just value freedom, the ability to feel grateful and to feel a connection with other people. Philanthropy allows me to experience those emotions on a daily basis and get a little more satisfaction out of life. I am no Mother Teresa or anything but I do get inspiration when I see people who have a lot of love and don’t mind sharing it.

Q. What would you say to people to inspire them to make a positive change in the world?
SR: I think we are all pretty much seeking the same things at the end of the day and that everyone is making a positive change in the world whether they know it or not. The question is: How conscious are they of their importance in this world? I think each person is pretty special and when they realize this, they begin to feel more fulfilled by life. Of course when this happens, the world always changes for the better.

Q. What makes you happiest?
SR: Having an ice-cream sundae after running a marathon.

Children in West Africa

Q. Where is your favorite travel destination?
SR: Bali, hands down, barrel-seeking at Uluwatu.

Q. What is your greatest vice?
SR: Oversleeping. I’d sleep all day if I could.

Q. What are your top 5 hotels?
SR: Kempinski in Istanbul, Amanusa in Bali, Raffles in Phnom Penh, Andaman in Langkawi, Four Seasons in Chiang Mai. Yes I have spent a LOT of time in Southeast Asia

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
SR: I am a vegetarian and it’s rare for me to find good-tasting vegetarian; however, Bagatelle in Oslo has an incredible vegetarian restaurant! Otherwise, in New York, my favorite meal is truffle pizza and onion rings at Five Points.

Q. What is your favorite beach?
SR: Because of the solitude and the waves, I’d have to say Nusa Dua, Bali.

Q. What film has had the greatest effect on you? Why?
SR: I loved Bling: A Planet Rock, Hotel Rwanda and The Killing Fields – not exactly popcorn and milk duds movies, but I like to learn something when I watch films.

Q. What is your favorite book?
SR: Fiction: The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
Non-fiction: What is the What by Dave Eggers

Q. What is your favorite ski resort?
SR: I prefer surf to snow, but after spending a hot June week snowboarding on the glaciers of Norway, I’d have to say Stryn.

Q. What cause is closest to your heart? Why?
SR: Refugee assistance and disaster relief, due to the sheer inhumanity of their situation.

Q. What’s one thing you would like to change about yourself?
SR: I could use a lot more drive and focus sometimes. Sometimes I prefer a lazy beach day to a hard-work day. But maybe that’s not all that bad!

Q. Which artist do you admire most?
SR: Sri Chinmoy. His paintings really move me.

Q. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
SR: Tried to negotiate a cease-fire between rival gangs and militia in Haiti with Wyclef. It worked but not before bullets flew (and flew way too close to me for comfort).

Q. Who is your favorite historical figure?
SR: The Buddha. Why not? I am sure he was a totally nice guy.

Q. What upsets you the most?
SR: When friends don’t get back to me right away (you know who you are).

Q. What is your favorite bar?
SR: I am not a drinker, but I spent hours at the FCC in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. I also like watching the sunsets over Port-au-Prince in Haiti at the bar at the Hotel Montana.

Q. What gadget can’t you live without?
SR: My blackberry.

Q. What are you most afraid of?
SR: Being old and having any regrets over any missed opportunities.

Q. Were do you love to shop?
SR: Philosophy (Kuala Lumpur), Triple Five Soul (Soho), Hansen’s Surfshop (in Encinitas) and any Versace store, really. Oops, I forgot to add DKNY.

Q. What’s your favorite drink?
SR: Give me a fresh coconut under a palm tree and I am in heaven.

Q. What are your top 3 songs?
SR: ‘Five More Minutes’ by OAR, ‘F Stop Blues’ by Jack Johnson and ‘Prabhuji’ by Ravi Shankar

— Alonso Dominguez

Hiro Nishida

Hiro Nishida

Hiro Nishida is originally from Tokyo and is the president of Food Scope, the Japan-based company behind two of New York's hippest Japanese restaurants, Megu (downtown) and the recently opened Megu Midtown.

In the midst of the rapid expansion of the Megu concept – to Hong Kong and London – we sat down with this sushi master to talk about new trends in food, the introduction of sushi to the Chinese market and the future of Japan’s most famous export.

Q. How and when did you become a member of ASW?

Hiro Nishida : I’ve been a member since May 2007, and I was invited by a friend.

Q. How do you use ASW and what’s your favorite site feature?
HN: I use ASW for market research a lot. I like to see where people go and what they are doing around the world.

Q. Megu (downtown) has been open for three years now. Tell us a bit about how the concept came together and landed in Tribeca in 2004.
HN: I was hired in Japan by Food Scope to look into the international expansion of the company. It was after watching the tragedy of September 11 in 2001 that I proposed to the [Food Scope] chairman the idea of opening a true Japanese restaurant in New York. Two months later I was scouting for locations.

Q. What does ‘Megu’ mean?
HN: It means blessing [in Japanese].

Q. Food Scope has several restaurants in Tokyo. Is Megu a franchise of one of these?
HN: No, Megu is its own concept. It was created to present refined Western palates with a real Japanese experience.

Q. Ever since the sushi ‘boom’ in the late 90s, every major city has found itself almost overpopulated with Japanese restaurants. It’s hard to stand out. What makes Megu different?

Design for Megu London's main dining room.

HN: Megu provides a real Japanese experience, complete with exquisite interiors and excellent service. Most ‘Japanese’ restaurants are fusions with other types of cuisines and only 10 percent of the places are actually Japanese-owned; most of these only cater to Japanese expatriates and their communities. Megu serves authentic, avant-garde Japanese food in a Western fine-dining setting.

Q. Let us talk produce. In the past years there have been a lot of changes in the market. There was a time when Japan used to supply almost 80 percent of the world's sushi fish. However, now suppliers everywhere seem to be turning to other sources around the world for fresh produce. What do you think of this transition and how does it affect the quality of the fish, specifically at Megu?
HN: Given the size of the market and the high-demand for fish these days, it’s become increasingly difficult to find quality produce where you would had found it five years ago. Nowadays, some of the best fish comes from regions like Spain and the Mediterranean. We try to keep our supply up to date in trends and use other methods to guarantee the best quality of fish.

Q. Methods such as?
HN: Farming. Every year the natural fish resources seem to run lower and the quality seems poorer. Pollution, climate change and the over-demand on the market have resulted in good fish becoming more rare and more expensive. Therefore, fish suppliers are now turning into farming, which is one of the best ways to get fresh, quality fish.

For instance, at Megu, we have signed a contract with a tuna farm in Okinawa, which is one of the best in the world.

Megu (downtown)

Q. What makes this farm good?
HN: The way they raise tuna. This is the first farm to breed and raise tuna on site. This way, we know when, how and where the fish are born, as well as knowing what they eat and being able to monitor all their activity and growth.

They also use one of the best killing methods – electroshock. This method is fast and relatively painless, in comparison to the chemical method, which is traditionally used.

The fish also come with a certificate, confirming the natural development of the tuna.

Q. I’m assuming this is much more expensive than regular tuna.
HN: Yes, but it’s worth it. The fish is super natural [Ed.: not super-natural] and the taste is much better.

Q. Megu is opening in Hong Kong, a location clearly representative of one of the new emerging sushi markets – China. What do you think about the development of these new markets and their impact on the future of sushi in the world?
HN: The market will suffer a huge change in the next five years. Now that large populations like the Chinese are starting to become part of the sushi culture, the market will have to shift dramatically to accommodate the needs of the new consumer. Farming seems to be picking up as one of the major resources, which should keep the supply of fish constant. However, the prices will continue to escalate.

Design for Megu Hong Kong's sushi bar

Q. What about the new restaurant’s menu? As an experience, I know the Chinese are culturally reluctant to try new types of food. How do you expect to tap into this market?
HN: In fact, 20 percent of the menu of Megu Hong Kong will be produced utilizing local produce. The food will still be strictly Japanese, however we’re planning on including local favourites like shark fin into the mix.

The other 80 percent gets created in Megu Midtown, then passed down to Megu (downtown), where it’s tested, and finally sent to the rest of the world. Hong Kong will be no exception.

Q. What about London? How did this city come into the picture?
HN: London is the next step in the geo-financial path Megu is following. After opening in New York, I thought it’d be only natural to follow up with restaurants in Hong Kong and London, the other two financial capitals of the world.

Q. So, you’re after the finance crowd?
HN: Yes. People in finance seem to conform the majority of our clientele. These are well-travelled individuals whose palates are more evolved and are able to appreciate the different cuisines around the world. Megu seems to be a good match for this crowd.

Megu Midtown

Q. What about the sushi-devouring socialite clan?
HN: Covered – we’re actively seeking out locations for restaurants in Miami and Dubai.

Details:
Megu Hong Kong will open on October 1st and is located in Kowloon inside Element, a new entertainment centre.

Megu London is scheduled to open on Berkeley Square in Mayfair, in June 2008.
For more information please go to megunyc.com

— Alonso Dominguez

Caprice Crane

Caprice Crane

Caprice Crane is the author of the new novel, Forget About It. She is also the former head writer for MTV networks and is the daughter of Gilligan’s Island’s Ginger Grant.

ASW sits down with this bright second-time novelist to talk about her new book, its movie proposal and becoming the pop-cultural successor to Candace Bushnell.

Q. How and when did you become a member of ASW?

Caprice Crane: I think I became a member in 2005. My friend Stephanie recruited me.

Q. How do you use ASW and what’s your favorite site feature?
CC: I like to skim through the forums and see what people are talking about. It's always interesting to see the different perspectives. And I jump back and forth between NY and LA a lot so it's an easy way to let people know where I am.

Q. Pop culture runs through your veins. Tell us about growing up in a Hollywood household.
CC: It turns out that "Pop culture" is actually fattening, especially on camera. So, I had it drained and then replaced by sardonic wit and the stuff they make Gummy Bears out of. Growing up in a "Hollywood" household was all I ever knew so I didn't know it to be different than anyone else's life. I thought all parents were on TV and that was just what grownups did.

Q. As a head writer for MTV for seven years, one could fairly assume you had a lot to do with ‘educating’ the MTV generation. Tell us a bit about your experience – how do you think your influence at this network helped shape a generation and pop culture today?
CC: Britney's extensions? East Coast VS West Coast? Blurred logos on shirts? (By the way, I'm designing shirts that have blurred logos™ to save the networks the trouble.) Yeah, that was ALL me. I can honestly say that if there is not a rush by today's parents to name their children "Caprice" or "Flava", it is an outrage the likes of which we have never before seen in this country. Seriously, MTV doesn't make pop culture, it just reports on it. And if I'm responsible for helping to shape a generation, I owe somebody an apology.

Q. Stupid and Contagious was a big success. Now Forget About It is following in its footsteps. Tell us about the experience of going from pop culture expert to novelist. How do these roles fit in your career?
CC: I don't know how to answer that because it's only recently come to my attention that I am a Pop Culture Expert (but it's delightful to know that all of the useless trivia in my over-crowded brain finally earned me something). I can tell you the difference between writing TV/Film screenplays and novels … and that is an economy of words in the former, and the freedom to really flesh out a story and play with language in the latter. Not that my writing is trying to be self-important prose. Because it's not – at all. I write stories that I'd want to read, with normal people swimming through outrageous situations. Fun characters who make people laugh.

Q. You have been dubbed as "the next Candace Bushnell." How do you feel about this statement? Is this the direction you're trying to follow? What do you think of Candace Bushnell's work?

Cover art for Forget About It

CC: I'm sorry, who? I'm kidding, I LOVED her on Murphy Brown. Kidding again. Candace Bushnell? Those are some pretty big stiletto heels to fill. She was among the first and best to define the world of the Y.U.F. (Young Urban Female) and she made the mundane seem marvellous. Not to mention that she built on her books and dominated another industry (television). So while I don't feel I'm another diarist of the Bushnell world, I would be pleased as punch to follow in those fabulous footsteps.

Q. Reportedly, Disney has 'snatched' the movie rights to Forget About It. Tell us about this project. Who's involved? When is it happening? We heard Scarlett Johansson.
CC: I don't want to give away too much, but it will feature Herbie the Love Bug. Seriously? Many of the details remain in flux. I wish I could tell you every little thing but I'm not privy. I hope they begin production soon because baby needs new shoes!

Q. Tell us about your other engagements. Screenplays, shorts, that kind of thing. Can we expect anything on that side?
CC: I had a blast making my short Passing The Time which was very loosely inspired by my new novel, Forget About It. (In the book the lead character fakes amnesia to reinvent herself and in the short film the lead character has amnesia when we meet him, and all he has is a piece of paper with a girl's name and address on it but when he shows up at her door she has no idea who he is.) The film stars Abigail Spencer who's starring in the new NBC series tentatively called The Watch and Reid Scott who currently stars in TBS's My Boys. I'm in talks with both actors about a sequel and also about possibly having one of them star in the feature film version of Stupid and Contagious, which is not set up at a studio yet but (thankfully) has several producers biting.

Q. What makes you happiest?
CC: Max, my dog, in a hat.

Q.Where is your favorite travel destination?
CC: For some reason, London gets the most stamps in my passport.

Q. What is your greatest vice?
CC: Caffeine. I quit coffee but ended up getting double the amount of caffeine in my green tea. I've tried to quit on my own, but no dice. I've been to meetings. Apparently Pfizer is working on a patch. Until then, I am pretty much Pfucked.

Q. What are your top 5 hotels?
CC: Everyone is all "Boardwalk this" and "Park Place that." Personally I load them up on the light green properties next to the "go to jail" dealie and let them do the work.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
CC: Katsu-Ya – the original one. The one that a certain very trendy restaurant ripped off the entire menu. I could live on their baked crab roll. I need a patch for that too.

Q. What is your favorite museum or gallery?
CC: My friend Dav's closet. It's still 1985 in there.

Q. What is your favorite beach?
CC: There are many factors that go into such a decision. I call it the "White Sand vs. Hypodermic Needles/Banana Hammocks Corollary."

Q. What is your favorite ski resort?
CC: Are you about to try to sell me on a time share? If so I need to get back those Apres Ski boots I sold on eBay.

Q. What cause is closest to your heart? Why?
CC: Breast Cancer. Everyone is touched in some way by it and it's a crime that we still have no cure. I lost my best friend to breast cancer recently and she was only 31.

Q. What’s one thing you would like to change about yourself?
CC: My fingerprints. The reasons why will soon become all too clear.

Q. Which artist do you admire most?
CC: Animal from The Muppet Show.

Q. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
CC: Animal from The Muppet Show.

Max, the dog

Q. Who is your favorite historical figure?
CC: Frodo. Homey would not be deterred by gay hobbit love or a crazy-making ring. He was like a shorter Katie Holmes.

Q. What upsets you the most?
CC: I do a lot of yoga. I'm so advanced nothing "upsets" me. Well, dogs without hats can set me off. Okay, animal cruelty enrages me. So, top 3 things that upset me: animal cruelty, ignorance, and Dockers..

Q. What is your favorite bar?
CC: Kit Kat. No, Mars!

Q. What gadget can’t you live without?
CC: Sadly, my BlackBerry.

Q. What are you most afraid of?
CC: Fear. And the boogie man.

Q. Where do you love to shop?
CC: New York, L.A., Paris, and London. Boutiques are dangerous.

Q. What’s your favorite drink?
CC: Orange Julius.

Q. What are your top 3 songs on your iPod? What’s your most motivational song?
CC: My CD collection rivals most record stores and emasculates most men. Impossible to narrow it down to three. Truly.

— Alonso Dominguez

Joshua Bell

As one of the top concert violinists in the world, Joshua Bell plays in approximately 100 cities a year. With his concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall approaching, ASW catches up with this brilliant musician to talk about The Red Violin Concerto’s recording, touring the world and what it means to be dubbed a ‘Young Global Leader’.

Q. How and when did you become a member of ASW?
Joshua Bell: I was invited to ASW by a friend two and a half years ago and tested the waters soon after by tentatively posting a thread concerning my upcoming trip to Berlin. Since I had a few friends there and had some extra comp tickets for my concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic, I asked if anyone might want to use them and perhaps meet up for drinks afterwards. I was surprised by the warm response and we ended up with a very large group of ASWers at the concert (and LOTS of drinks afterwards!). I have instigated several such gatherings in cities around the world and have made some really wonderful friends this way.

Q. How do you use ASW and what’s your favorite site feature?
JB: Since I travel to 100 or so cities each year, I find the city guide very useful for restaurant recommendations.

Q. You’ll be playing at the Royal Albert Hall for the Last Night of Proms in London. Sounds exciting. How do you feel about this particular opportunity?
JB: The Proms is one my favorite events and I play on the series almost every summer. The Royal Albert Hall seems to attract a younger audience, partially because of its uniquely casual atmosphere (the whole lower level is without seats and the ‘Promenaders’ stand throughout the concert) and The Proms sells out night after night (7000 tickets) throughout the season while maintaining a serious classical programme.

In an age when sceptics question the future of classical music, The Proms proves that there is a big audience for the genre, given that the conditions are right. September 8th will be my first time playing on the Last Night of the Proms. I’ll be playing mostly selections from my last album Voice of the Violin, including a duet with the amazing (and beautiful!) soprano, Anna Netrebko.

Q. You go on tour a lot. What do you like/dislike about it?
JB: I’ve been touring for more than 20 years now (since I was fourteen) so I can hardly imaging a life without travel. I play 120 concerts a year which keeps me away from home about two thirds of the time. I love the variety and unpredictability of living on the road. Sure, I’m pretty sick of airports (ah, I wish I could afford to fly privately, but this is rarely an option for me) and I miss my friends and family at home, but I wouldn’t trade my ‘job’ for anything.

Joshua Bell

Q. Which has been your favourite place to play thus far? Why?
JB: Just this week I returned to Moscow after 17 years (last time I played there it was still the Soviet Union) and participated in a concert on the Red Square – an amazing experience. It’s fun to notice the ways different audiences react to music, and Eastern European audiences rank among the most appreciative.
As thrilling as it is to play for big audiences like those in the Red Square or the Hollywood Bowl, my most enjoyable musical moments have been in places like the intimate Wigmore Hall in London, the Musikverein in Vienna and of course, the magical Carnegie Hall in NYC.

Q. You were the only American musician to be named by the World Economic Forum as one of the 250 ‘Young Global Leaders’. How do you feel about that title?
JB: Well, I’m not exactly sure what ‘global leading’ means or why I was chosen for this list, but it certainly is an honor. It also makes me happy to see that artists and musicians were included amongst the politicians and entrepreneurs on the list. Personally, I avoid getting involved directly in politics and I’m sceptical of any art that calls itself political. I feel that the greatness of art and music transcends politics and speaks to more elemental and profound truths of the human spirit. However, it is precisely because of this that art can have a powerful effect on the world as a community.

Q. What would be your advice to the young, budding musicians out there?
JB: I’m often asked what advice to give budding musicians and it’s hard to say. Should they get a ‘real job’? For those who make music, it is more of a way of life than a job. For many, even many great musicians, making a living can be a struggle, but if one truly loves music then it becomes something that one simply must do.

Q. As your most famous work, The Red Violin must be extremely significant for you. How does it feel to revisit the score for a concerto?
JB: The Red Violin was my first experience working with film and I’ve since sought out other film projects. One of my recent favorite collaborations was in a film called Ladies in Lavender with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. However, it will be hard for me to ever find a more involving movie project than The Red Violin.

I think it’s an incredible piece of music and an example of how a modern composer can write something that sounds new and inventive, yet melodic and beautiful. Sony/BMG will be releasing my recording of it just this week and I’ll be performing the concerto often this year.

Q. You released a new CD this year. Tell us about The Essential Joshua Bell.
JB: The Essential is essentially a compilation of my favorite bits from all the albums I’ve done for Sony. The pieces are mostly drawn from my more recent Romance of the Violin and Voice of the Violin, as well as more serious classical stuff like Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, etc. It also includes some crossover collaborations with other musicians like Bela Fleck and my bluegrass buddies Edgar Meyer, Sam Bush, and Mike Marchal.

Confusingly, my old record company, Universal, has also recently released a recording of the exact same name (The Essential J.B.), but this is just a haphazard mix from my ten years of recording for Decca, done without my consent or consultation, so I’d recommend the Sony one.

Joshua Bell

Q. You live in New York. Do consider NY to be the musical centre of the world? How does it compare to other music capitals?
JB: I’ve lived in NYC for 18 years and can hardly imagine living anywhere else. Basically in New York you can eat anything, see everything and hear almost any kind of music on any given night. For classical music, New York is perhaps the ‘centre’ of the world, although London is a close rival. In general, Europe is in many ways the place to be for classical music – and I spend almost half my year there – but I am always happy to come home. Furthermore, I’ve spent the last two years building my dream home in the Gramercy Park area. And after a gut-job renovation, I’m finally getting ready to move in – I’m so excited!

Q. If you weren’t a violinist, what would you be? Why?
JB: If I hadn’t gone into music I would have gravitated toward something in the areas of science (I love physics), medical research or psychology.

Q. Where is your favorite travel destination?
JB: I love Italy, Asia, South America… too many places to name. Since I travel for work, I rarely travel for fun. But I’ve been known to go on the occasional golf trip or catch a last minute flight to Las Vegas for a fun escapade.

Q. What is your greatest vice?
JB: I definitely have an addictive personality. Luckily, I’ve never done any drugs, but I did waste countless hours playing video games as a kid when I should have been practicing. I also have a weakness for gambling, which I inherited from my mother who plays poker three times a week at the age of 72! Did I mention Vegas?

Q. What are your top 5 hotels?
JB: Calistoga Ranch in Napa (those outdoor showers!), The Gramercy Park Hotel in NYC, The Baglioni in London, The Plaza Athénée in Paris and pretty much any Four Seasons.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?
JB: In NYC, Sushi of Gari and Eleven Madison, French Laundry in California and Girardet in Switzerland (now taken over by Phillipe Rochat).

Q. What is your favorite museum or gallery?
JB: MOMA in NYC

Q. What is your favorite beach?
JB: I prefer the mountains, but I do like spending time on the beach when I’m in Rio – watching the waves, of course.

Q. What book has had the greatest effect on you? Why?

Joshua Bell

JB: I was most affected by The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand as a teenager. It helped me in regards to issues of individualism and self-respect. I would recommend this book to any artist (or architect). I love to read and particularly enjoy Kundera, Updike, and John Irving among others. I also like British humor – P.G. Wodehouse for instance.

Q. What is your favorite film?
JB: Breaking Away, a brilliant, but not too well-known film set in my hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. Also, I like lots of Woody Allen.

Q. What is your favorite ski resort?
JB: I love both Aspen and Verbier – I spend time in both during the summer because of the music festivals

Q. What cause is closest to your heart? Why?
JB: I work mostly with causes involving children, like Education Through Music, which puts music programs in schools that have none (usually in low-income neighbourhoods). I also do a lot for Paul Newman’s charity, the Hole in the Wall Gang camps for kids with terminal illnesses.

Q. What’s one thing you would like to change about yourself?
JB: I really wish I had more discipline. Unless I enjoy doing something, I tend not to do it if I can put it off for a later time.

Q. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
JB: I once got dragged onto stage by Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea after stupidly agreeing, just before the show, to improvise a song with them in front of thousands of people. I’m sure I sucked and probably made a fool of myself, but in the end it was a thrill and I was glad that I did it.

Q. Who is your favorite historical figure?
JB: A toss-up between Einstein and Newton. Both epitomized ‘thinking outside the box’ and changed the world.

Q. What upsets you the most?
JB: Dishonesty and poor communication skills. The world would be a much better place if people just dared to communicate properly –I’m still learning this myself, of course.

Q. What gadget can’t you live without?
JB: My laptop, a Macbook Pro, as my life seems to revolve around the computer. I’m loving my iPhone, too.

Q. What are you most afraid of?
JB: Death. Not so much the act of dying, but never living again. I’ve been obsessed with death since I was a kid.

Q. Where do you love to shop?
JB: I could shop for gadgets for hours on end at the Apple store on 5th Ave. I like clothes, but hate shopping for them. I’ve recently started paying someone to do it for me.

Q. What’s your favorite drink?
JB: A good milkshake, vodka or perhaps a milkshake with vodka in it.

Q. What are your top 3 songs?
JB: Um … Bach, Beethoven and Brahms

— Alonso Dominguez

Luxury Reinvented--Shanghai Boutique Hotels

M Suites, Pier One, Shanghai.

Since market restrictions were lifted, Shanghai, once referred to as ‘The Paris of the Orient,’ has promptly become a hotspot for internationalism, business and design. And with its rapid social, cultural and economic change, a new breed of hip and cosmopolitan visitor has arrived to the city. It's not surprising then, that Shanghai now caters to the varied needs of high-end businesspeople and tourists alike with a new collection of boutique, luxury hotels – here ASW Magazine takes a look inside three of them.

The Mansion Hotel: for the blue blood

The facts
With its most-anticipated opening in May 2007, this renovated historical property in the middle of the Old French Concession has set a new benchmark in Shanghai’s boutique hotel industry. Hosting 32 opulent guest rooms, a cocktail lounge, a penthouse lounge and a private boardroom, the suites in this lodging oasis range from grand to majestic, all maintaining an original, vintage allure. While extremely conscious of the preservation of the authentic Concession Era French-Asian décor, the hotel offers all the amenities a modern lifestyle demands: with high definition flat-screen TVs, iPod stereos and Wi-fi facilities come antique armchairs and ottomans, velvet drapes and faint couches.

The scoop
The hotel was originally designed by French architect Lafayette in 1932, as the residence of Sun Ting Sun (a partner of the infamous Shanghai gangster Do Yue Sheng) until the liberation of the city in 1949. During this period, the villa also served as an after-dark venue for the most extravagant parties, attended by Shanghai’s influential and elite. The hotel preserves a vast collection of original artefacts, ranging from furniture and personal toiletries to photographs and deeds of former occupants and visitors.

The vibe
The quiet hallways, lobby and rooms of the Mansion Hotel allow for a perfect escape from urban life – ideal for those in search of lethargic luxury in a historical setting.

The details.
The Mansion Hotel
82 Xin Le Road, Shanghai
+862154039888
www.chinamansionhotel.com

88 Xintiandi: for the businessperson

The facts
This 53-room hotel is located in the centre of the city in a converted international entertainment development – Xintiandi. The modern Asian design of the premises offers all the appropriate features required by today’s businessperson, without feeling overwhelmingly oversized and generic. Equipped with individual in-room offices, the hotel is a perfect combination of functionality and comfort, situated within one of the foreign-friendliest environments in Shanghai. A certified gym with lap pool is available to all guests as well as tenants of the neighbouring luxury-apartment high-rises.

The scoop
Xintiandi, a newly-renovated complex that’s home to the hotel and was once home of the First Chinese Congress Hall (think Mao’s office), is now one of the largest commercial developments in the city. Prominent businesses including high-end restaurants like the soon-to-open Pure (from the culinary forces of Megu in New York) and high-end boutiques like Hugo Boss, Dior and Shanghai Tang, have made Xintiandi one of the trendiest places in town.

The vibe
88 Xintiandi offers convenient and luxurious accommodation amidst an entertainment oasis that will alleviate the culture shock for a first visit to China. Quiet if needed and happening if desired, this hotel carries a friendly, yet fast-paced atmosphere; perfect for professionals seeking exceptional treatment, convenience and boutique luxury.

The details
88 Xintiandi
380 Huang Pi Nan Lu, Shanghai
+862153838833
www.88xintiandi.com

M Suites at Pier One: for the trendsetter

The facts
M Suites is one part of the supper club-lounge-boutique hotel Pier One complex. The 24 rooms in this boutique lodge were decorated by eight international minimalist designers with the über-chic in mind. The suites feature expected amenities for a boutique hotel such as flat-screen TVs and iPod stereo, plus other fashionable inclusions like a private yacht at the guests’ disposal.

The scoop
Located in the warehouse-trendy Suzhou Creek area, Pier One, a former Chinese beer factory, now resembles the Art Deco buildings one could expect to find in Miami’s South Beach. The edifice is in short distance of numerous concept shops, trendy office lofts and Moganshan Lu, the art gallery district of the city. Apart from the petite hotel, the meticulously chic complex also serves as home to Mimosa Supperclub – a white-themed restaurant specializing in 3, 5 and 7 course meals served on indulgent bed/tables – and Monsoon – a modern Asian decorated bar and lounge complete with a roof terrace and a Jacuzzi overlooking the creek. A younger, hedonistic crowd is seen here on a regular basis, attending mostly private functions hosted by luxury brands.

The vibe
Expect an active, champagne-influenced environment on weekends with a more relaxed, yet just as chic, atmosphere throughout the week. M Suites is a haven for those who crave a young, hip and artsy environment with their glass of Cristal.

The details
M Suites at Pier One
88 Yi Chang Road, Shanghai, PRC
+862151558399
www.pierone-hotel.com

— Alonso Dominguez

Shanghai Shimmer: Disco Debut of Kylie Minogue's H&M Collection

Kylie Minogue

“Come into my world,” sang the 300-strong female chorus to celebrities and socials as they arrived for the “H&M loves Kylie” event at the Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology.

The soirée, organized in part by ASW member Anastasia Kolpakova, marked the global launch of the Swedish company’s Kylie-inspired beachwear line and its flagship store debut in China with sparkling style. One hundred kilos of Swarovski crystals were used to transform the museum’s lobby into a walk-in disco ball. A gyrating surfboard hung over a twinkling mirrored sea where guests such as Hong Kong film star Ai Dai, top model Du Juan and TV star Lee Xiao Ran posed for photographers.

The Shanghai Museum of Science and Technology	Lee Xiao Ran	HK Ai Dai

Kylie in Concert

While the evening’s fireworks display was worthy of the best Chinese New Year celebration, the highlight was undoubtedly Kylie Minogue’s live performance, which was simultaneously broadcast to the rest of the world. Shanghai-based ASW members Kiko Sih, Armelle Nguyen Than, Todd Gill, Vicky Hung, Adrien Chavassieu and Vittorio Gabba were amongst those who enjoyed the performance and the evening’s decadent atmosphere first-hand.

As if attending the chicest shindig that the city has seen in years was not enough, Shanghai’s fabulous set received a post-party treat. They’ll enjoy first dibs on the exclusive “H&M loves Kylie” line at the label’s local flagship a whole four weeks before fashionistas elsewhere.

- Alonso Dominguez

FLY: Dreaming, Reinvented

Rarely in the world of media does one come across fresh, edgy material—we have post-modernism to thank for that—but sometimes, the media powers that be take a turn for the better and sparks come flying off the page—sometimes even into a video screen. Such is the case for FLY, the brainchild of Stephen Blaise and Catherine Camille Cushman— Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director, respectively—which is a hardly definable, yearly collection of film pieces and features aimed at the construction of elaborated conscious fantasies.

“The project started in 2003,” comments creator Stephen Blaise. “I was invited to be an exhibiting artist at the TED conference in Monterey, California—I was at a crossroads in my life. My mind was freshly filled and inspired by the conference talks, when driving up the coast of Big Sur I stopped in a record store and had an epiphany.”

Today, that epiphany—FLY—delivers an unorthodox, insightful view of combined creative genres including art, fashion, music and film. The sometimes playful, sometimes self-aware, always poignant film and photography projects are created in collaboration with daring artists and their multi-denominational muses. “I always compare the people who sign on to work with FLY to the characters from Clouzot's film Wages of Fear: hardboiled, with deep resolve and nothing to lose.” Amongst those who have been involved with the projects are ASW members Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Andreas von Scheele, Cyril Guyot, Jonathan Turner, Paolo Zambaldi, Patrik Andersson and Valerio Rocco Orlando.

FLY is an invitation to dream. Each piece in the project is made up of a multitude of sensorial threads strung together by the careful hand of a weaving master. Further, if dreams are the product of our conscious existence as expressed by the subconscious, then these projects represent somewhat of a reverse process. FLY explores the subconsious and utilizes practical, cognizant tools like film and photography to render the caverns of the subconscious mind. In other words: FLY brings dreams into the realm of reality; it creates "Conscious Dreams."

The product, as elaborate and finished as it may seem, comes from a raw, instinctual place, inspired by the most basic human sensibilities. “I’m inspired by my desire, everything comes from that,” shared Blaise. "There is a school of Buddhism that teaches that all desire leads to enlightenment. It's impossible to remove desire from your life. Even the desire to live is a desire. Your desires, pain and personal struggle, everything comes from that. That's our truth and what defines us. Hopefully, it's where the work is based, where the most interesting questions are raised. Everything is a self-portrait,” he concluded.

When asked to define FLY—“Is it a magazine?” we asked—Blaise responded: “To put it simply, FLY is more than a magazine. You only have to watch it in its entirety to fully understand what this means.” Indeed, words are hardly sufficient—and rarely used—to define the work of Blaise, Cushman and their crafty collaborators. Thus, as instructed, we shall let the work speak for itself.

Sweet dreams.

--Alonso Dominguez

FLY DVD is presently in its third incarnation, FLY_02, which is available internationally through a multitude of outlets including museums, galleries, specialty newsstands and shops. For more information visit www.insidefly.com

All photographs courtesy of FLY

Videos:

1. Audition opening sequence featuring 'Givenchy and trailer from FLY_02
2. String by Jamie Isaia featuring Sonia Rykiel
3. Tea-a-tete by Stephen Blaise featuring Thom Browne